Inflatable sailboat racing mark that can be reduced in size for storage while inflated

ABSTRACT

A mark for sailboat racing having three inflatable elongated tubes joined closely at one common end so that when inflated, a mutual repelling force is developed at the common end causing the outboard ends of the elongated tubes to move away from each other. Lines join the outboard ends of the tubes so that their movement is limited to forming a tetrahedron. The outboard ends of the elongated tubes can be pushed together and constrained for transportation and storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an inflatable sailing mark for use in sailboat racing. In particular, this mark can be significantly reduced in size for transportation or storage without being deflated and then can be returned to its original size when desired.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Sailors have tested their sailing skills amongst each other since the beginning of sailboats by racing on a course defined by marks. The marks used vary to the extreme from land marks to present day large inflatable plastic floats. Present day large inflatable plastic floats are desirable because they are visible from a distance, light weight and ride high in the water. The main disadvantage is that they are difficult to transport and store when inflated because of their size. The obvious solution is to inflate them just before deployment and deflate after retrieval but this is very time consuming and inflation requires special equipment because of the volume of air needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inflatable sailing mark of the present invention addresses the problem mentioned in prior art by providing both a savings on space and manpower. When desired, the mark can be easily compressed to a smaller size for storage by pushing its legs together and constraining them. To redeploy it, the constraint is removed and the mark assumes its original shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a deflated buoyant member disposed horizontally.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 showing that the deflated buoyant member lays flat.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of three deflated buoyant members disposed horizontally and closely joined at a common end.

FIG. 4 is an end view of FIG. 3 showing the end of the deflated mark where the three buoyant members are closely joined.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view disposed vertically of the sailing mark with its three buoyant members inflated and restrained so as to assume the shape of a mark suitable for a sailboat race.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the sailboat racing mark, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of three inflatable buoyant members 11. Each buoyant member 11 has one end 12 reinforced for closely joining to the other buoyant members with the opposite end 13 reinforced with attachment holes for attaching a restraining device 14.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict three deflated buoyant members 11 closely joined at a common end 12. FIG. 4 in particular shows how one half of each buoyant member 11 is closely joined to one half of another buoyant member 11 until all halves of each individual buoyant member are closely joined. Rivets 15 are used for joining the halves together.

FIG. 5 depicts the sailboat racing mark 10 in its deployed form. The three buoyant members 11 have been inflated causing a mutual repelling force at their closely joined ends 12 causing their outboard ends 13 to move commonly away from each other until a restraining device 14, in this case a line, stops them causing the mark 10 to take the form of a tetrahedron. The outboard ends 13 of the buoyant members 11 can be gathered together so that the buoyant members 11 lay parallel to each other thereby making the mark 10 more compact and easier to store.

Although only one preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A sailboat racing mark which comprises a multitude of buoyant members joined together at a common end with a means of repulsion that causes said buoyant members to form a plane of radial symmetry and a restraining device that controls the position of said buoyant members so that said plane of radial symmetry becomes a cone of radial symmetry that is acceptable as a mark for sailboat racing.
 6. A sailboat racing mark as recited in claim 6 in which said buoyant members are individually comprised of identical elongated flexible tubes, sealed at both ends so as to be air tight and so closely joined at said common end that when inflated adjacent buoyant members experience said means of repulsion which causes them to form said plane of radial symmetry.
 7. A sailboat racing mark as recited in claim 6 in which said restraining device is comprised of individual lines connecting said adjacent buoyant members in such a way as to limit said buoyant members movement caused by said means of repulsion so that said plane of radial symmetry becomes said cone of radial symmetry.
 8. A sailboat racing mark as recited in claim 7 which comprises three said buoyant member with said lines connected between the outboard ends of said buoyant members and of such length that said cone of radial symmetry assumes the shape of a tetrahedron and where said means of repulsion can be overcome manually by forcing the three outboard ends of said buoyant members closely together so that said buoyant members become parallel and said mark reduces in size to facilitate storage. 